The system processes sequences of digital still images to provide real-time digital video effects, and includes first and second channels for communicating first and second sequences of digital still images at a rate for simulating video. A controller directs still images to one of the first and second channels. A blender, having a first input connected to the first channel, a second input connected to the second channel, and an output, provides a combination of the first and second sequences of digital still images at a rate for simulating video.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A method of generating a third sequence of digital still images from a first sequence of digital still images and a second sequence of digital still images during playback, wherein the first and second sequences are stored in data files in a file system, each digital image of the first and second sequence including a plurality of pixels, the method comprising: controlling the transfer of the first and second sequences from the data files to a first and a second data buffer, respectively; receiving a transition signal defining a transition from the first sequence to the second sequence; controlling reading of the first and second sequences from the first and second buffers, respectively; and generating the third sequence of digital still images from the read first sequence and the read second sequence in accordance with the defined transition, wherein the step of controlling the transfer of the first and second sequences from the data files to the first and second buffers, respectively, includes transferring to the first and second buffers in accordance with the amount of space available in each of first and second buffers, and wherein the first sequence is associated with the first data buffer and the second sequence is associated with the second data buffer, and wherein transferring comprises: determining an amount of data in the first data buffer and in the second data buffer; selecting one of the first and second sequences, wherein the selected sequence has the least amount of data in the associated data buffer, and selecting a desired amount of data to be read for the sequence; for the selected sequence, reading the desired amount of data from the data file stored in the file system; and repeating steps of determining, selecting and reading during playback of the generated third sequence of digital still images.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transition is user-defined.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: encoding the third sequence of digital still images in a motion video signal.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: transferring the third sequence of digital still images to a video encoder to be encoded in a motion video signal, wherein the transition is generated in response to demands from the video encoder.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second buffers both receive and output data on a first-in, first-out basis.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data in the files is compressed, the method further comprising: decompressing the data.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: transferring the first sequence of digital still images to a digital video effects system operative to perform three-dimensional video effects on sequences of digital still images; and transferring the third sequence of digital still images to the digital video effects system, wherein, in accordance with the transition defined by the transition signal, the third sequence is the same as the second sequence.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the third sequence is generated at a real-time rate.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the third sequence is generated at a user-selectable rate.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: determining one or more digital still images of the first sequence and one or more digital still images of the second sequence to which the transition applies based on the transition signal.
11. A system for generating a third sequence of digital still images from a first sequence of digital still images and a second sequence of digital still images during playback, wherein the first and second sequences are stored in data files in a file system, each digital image of the first and second sequence including a plurality of pixels, the system comprising: means for controlling the transfers of the first and second sequences from the data files to a first and a second data buffer, respectively; means for receiving a transition signal defining a transition from the first sequence to the second sequence; means for controlling reading the first and second sequences from the first and second buffers, respectively; and means for generating the third sequence of digital still images from the read first sequence and the read second sequence in accordance with the defined transition, wherein the means for controlling the transfers of the first and second sequences from the data files to the first and second buffers controls the transfers in accordance with the amount of space available in each of first and second buffers, and wherein the first sequence is associated with the first data buffer and the second sequence is associated with the second data buffer, and wherein the means for controlling the transfers of the first and second sequences from the data files to a first and a second data buffer comprises: means for determining an amount of data in the first data buffer and in the second data buffer; means for selecting one of the first and second sequences, wherein the selected sequence has the least amount of data in the associated data buffer, and selecting a desired amount of data to be read for the sequence; means for reading the desired amount of data from the data file for the selected sequence stored in the file system; and wherein the means for determining, means for selecting and means for reading cooperate during playback and generation of the third sequence of digital still images.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the transition is user-defined.
13. The system of claim 11 , further comprising: means for encoding the third sequence of digital still images in a motion video signal.
14. The system of claim 11 , further comprising: means for transferring the third sequence of digital still images to a video encoder to be encoded in a motion video signal, wherein the means for generating generates the transition between the first and second sequences of digital still images in response to demands from the video encoder.
15. The system of claim 11 , wherein each of the first and second buffers receives and outputs data on a first-in, first-out basis.
16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the data files are in a compressed state, the system further comprising: means for decompressing the data files.
17. The system of claim 11 further comprising: means for transferring the first sequence of digital still images to a digital video effects system operative to perform three-dimensional video effects on sequences of digital still images; and means for transferring the third sequence of digital still images to the digital video effects system, wherein, in accordance with the transition defined by the transition signal the third sequence is the same as the second sequence.
18. The system of claim 11 , wherein the system is operative to generate the third sequence at a real-time rate.
19. The system of claim 11 , wherein the system is operative to generate the third sequence at a user-selectable rate.
20. The system of claim 11 , further comprising: means for determining the first digital still image and the second digital still between which to generate the transition based on the transition signal.
21. A system for generating a third sequence of digital still images from a first sequence of digital still images and a second sequence of digital still images during playback, wherein the first and second sequences are stored in data files in a file system, each digital image of the first and second sequence including a plurality of pixels, the system comprising: a first data buffer and a second data buffer; a first controller to control the transfers of the first and second sequences from the data files to the first and second data buffers, respectively; a second controller having a first input to receive a transition signal defining the transition from the first sequence to the second sequence, a first output to control a read of one or more digital still images of the first sequence and one or more digital still images of the second sequences from the first buffer and the second buffer, respectively, to the processing module in accordance with the transition signal, and a second output to produce at an output a control signal, wherein the control signal indicates the transition to be performed based on the transition signal; and a digital video processing module for generating the third sequence of digital still images, the processing module having a first input to receive the one or more digital still images of the first sequence, a second input to receive the one or more digital still images of the second sequence, a third input to receive the control signal, and an output to provide the third sequence, the digital video processing module generating the third sequence from the one or more digital still images of the first sequence and the one or more digital still images of the second sequences in accordance with the control signal, wherein the first controller is operative to transfer the first and second sequences to the first and second buffers, respectively, in accordance with the amount of space available in each of first and second buffers, and wherein the first sequence is associated with the first data buffer and the second sequence is associated with the second data buffer, and wherein the first controller comprises: means for determining an amount of data in the first data buffer and in the second data buffer; means for selecting one of the first and second sequences, wherein the selected sequence has the least amount of data in the associated data buffer, and selecting a desired amount of data to be read for the sequence; means for reading the desired amount of data from the data file for the selected sequence stored in the file system; and wherein the means for determining, means for selecting and means for reading cooperate during playback and generation of the third sequence of digital still images.
22. The system of claim 21 , wherein the transition is user-defined.
23. The system of claim 21 , further comprising: a video encoder to receive the third sequence of digital still images and encode the third sequence in a motion video signal, wherein the second controller is operative to transfer the first and second sequences of digital still images from the first and second data buffers, respectively, to the processing module in response to demands from the video encoder.
24. The system of claim 21 , wherein the first and second buffers both receive and output data on a first-in, first-out basis.
25. The system of claim 21 , wherein the data files are in a compressed state, the system further comprising: a decompressor to decompress the data files.
26. The system of claim 21 , further comprising: a digital video effects system having first input to receive the first sequence of digital still images and a second input to receive the third sequence of digital still images, the digital video effects system to perform three-dimensional video effects on the first and third sequences of digital still images, wherein, in accordance with the transition defined by the transition signal, the third sequence is the same as the second sequence.
27. The system of claim 21 , wherein the system is operative to generate the third sequence at a real-time rate.
28. The system of claim 21 , wherein the system is operative to generate the third sequence at a user-selectable rate.
29. The system of claim 21 , wherein the second controller is operative to determine the first image and the second image between which to generate the transition based on the transition signal.
30. A process for transferring video data for first and second sequences of digital still images from one or more video data files stored in a file system to an effects processing device during playback of a third sequence of digital still images output by the effects processing device, wherein the effects processing device has a first buffer for storing video data before processing for the first sequence and a second buffer for storing video data before processing for the second sequence, and a third buffer for storing the generated third sequence before playback by an output device, the process comprising: determining an amount of data in the first buffer and in the second buffer; selecting one of the first and second sequences, wherein the selected sequence has the least amount of data in the buffer associated with the sequence, and selecting a desired amount of data to be read for the sequence; for the selected sequence, reading the desired amount of data from the data file for the selected sequence in the file system; processing the video data in the first and second buffers received from the file system using the effects processing device to provide the third sequence to the third buffer for playback by the output device; and repeating steps of determining, selecting, reading and processing during playback of the third sequence.
31. The method of claim 30 , wherein processing the video data comprises: receiving a transition signal defining a transition from the first sequence to the second sequence; controlling reading of the first and second sequences from the first and second buffers, respectively; and generating the third sequence of digital still images from the read first sequence and the read second sequence in accordance with the defined transition.
32. The method of claim 31 , further comprising: transferring the third sequence of digital still images to a video encoder to be encoded in a motion video signal, wherein generating data for the third sequence is performed in response to demands from the video encoder during playback.
33. The method of claim 30 , wherein the first and second buffers both receive and output data on a first-in, first-out basis.
34. The method of claim 31 , wherein processing comprises: transferring the first sequence of digital still images to a digital video effects system operative to perform three-dimensional video effects on sequences of digital still images; processing the second sequence of digital still images in accordance with the transition defined by the transition signal such that the third sequence is the same as the second sequence; and transferring the third sequence of digital still images to the digital video effects system.
35. The method of claim 30 , wherein the third sequence is generated at a real-time rate.
36. The method of claim 30 , wherein the third sequence is generated at a user-selectable rate.
37. An apparatus for transferring video data for first and second sequences of digital still images from one or more video data files stored in a file system to an effects processing device during playback of a third sequence of digital still images output by the effects processing device, wherein the effects processing device has a first buffer for storing video data before processing for the first sequence and a second buffer for storing video data before processing for the second sequence, and a third buffer for storing the generated third sequence before playback by an output device, the apparatus comprising: means for determining an amount of data in the first buffer and in the second buffer; means for selecting one of the first and second sequences, wherein the selected sequence has the least amount of data in the buffer associated with the sequence, and selecting a desired amount of data to be read for the sequence; means for reading, for the selected sequence, the desired amount of data from the data file for the selected sequence in the file system; means for processing the video data in the first and second buffers received from the file system using the effects processing device to provide the third sequence to the third buffer for playback by the output device; and wherein the means for determining, selecting, reading and processing cooperate during playback of the third sequence.
38. The apparatus of claim 37 , wherein the means for processing the video data comprises: means for receiving a transition signal defining a transition from the first sequence to the second sequence; means for controlling reading of the first and second sequences from the first and second buffers, respectively; and means for generating the third sequence of digital still images from the read first sequence and the read second sequence in accordance with the defined transition.
39. The apparatus of claim 38 , further comprising: means for transferring the third sequence of digital still images to a video encoder to be encoded in a motion video signal, wherein the means for generating data for the third sequence is performed in response to demands from the video encoder during playback.
40. The apparatus of claim 37 , wherein the first and second buffers both receive and output data on a first-in, first-out basis.
41. The apparatus of claim 37 , wherein the means for processing comprises: means for transferring the first sequence of digital still images to a digital video effects system operative to perform three-dimensional video effects on sequences of digital still images; means for processing the second sequence of digital still images in accordance with the transition defined by the transition signal such that the third sequence is the same as the second sequence; and means for transferring the third sequence of digital still images to the digital video effects system.
42. The apparatus of claim 37 , wherein the third sequence is generated at a real-time rate.
43. The apparatus of claim 37 , wherein the third sequence is generated at a user selectable rate.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
June 30, 1997
March 12, 2002
Browse 5M+ US patents with plain-English claim translations and AI-generated analysis.